Shark Diving and More Highlights of San Diego, California Vacation

California is full of adventure, what seems like constant sunshine due to its proximity to the Equator giving it a Mediterranean-like climate, stunning natural landscapes and wildlife.

Although there is plenty to do in the San Diego area before and after this excursion that we'll mention, the thing that originally pulled me in was that there are only four places in the entire world where you're guaranteed to see great whites and one of them is with a company based out of San Diego, California, Shark Diver (1451 Rosecrans St, San Diego).

An adventure like this does start with a fairly in-depth planning process that they guide you through, involving paperwork, special insurance, and any preparation to getting on the boat and heading into Mexico. The team at Shark Diver is incredible. I worked with Cindy and she guided me through the process flawlessly and was very responsive whenever I had random questions. Be sure to check into the Covid protocols at the time of your trip.

For our group, a Covid test (it could be rapid) was needed within a week of getting on the boat, and the entire group was tested again when we arrived at Hotel Coral Y Marina (Carr. Tijuana-Ensenada Km.103-#3421, Zona Playitas, 22860 Ensenada, B.C., Mexico).

The day you leave for the excursion, you will meet at The Monsaraz San Diego, Tapestry Collection by Hilton (1451 Rosecrans St, San Diego). Once the group gathers and gets acquainted with each other, you'll split up into two vans and head about two hours over the Mexican border where you'll go through customs, scan your bags, and have your passport stamped. After about a two hour drive, the group will reconvene at a hotel in Mexico at Hotel Coral Y Marina where everyone will have a safe place to store their luggage so you can grab something to eat, get a glass of local wine, walk around near the marina, and get to know the rest of the group.

You will most likely be there for a couple of hours because they like to accommodate for any holdups at the border. Once everything's ready and all the Covid test results are back, they will tag and bring your luggage onto the boat for you so all you have to do is get excited and head to the pier! Once on the boat, you'll meet the staff at Nautilus Dive Adventures (who greeted us with champagne, cheese, and freshly made sushi) including the chef on board, the deckhands, the stewardesses, and the captain.

It takes nearly 20 hours to get to Guadalupe Island where the great white sharks are, so they'll let you get a good night's sleep after introductions and a light snack. The following day, while you're still sailing out to the island, is filled with safety procedures, cage diving protocols, and relaxing on the boat before arriving to the island at around dinner time (generally around 5 or 6 PM).